DARK LORD

School's Out

From the Dark Lord series, volume 2

Age Range: 10 - 14

Pub Date: Feb. 4th, 2014ISBN: 978-0-8027-3522-5Publisher: Walker

While the Dark Lord’s away, everyone begins living in peace and harmony, much to the chagrin of the White Wizard, Hasdruban.

Dirk Lloyd, or the Dark Lord, the Nameless One, the World Burner, the Sorcerer Supreme, etc., is still in exile on Earth in the body of a 12-year-old boy who lives with Christopher and his parents. Their friend Sooz (short for Susan) was accidentally sent to the Dark Lands, Dirk’s world of origin, when the trio attempted to magically send Dirk home. Now the boys have the added task of rescuing Sooz and a new impediment, in the form of a nanny who has a secret identity and is likely trying to kill Dirk. Since he’s no longer evil incarnate, her attempts fail miserably. Meanwhile, goth girl Sooz has befriended the Dark Lord’s minions (all that black!) and brought peace to his lands, much to the disbelief of Hasdruban (who’s probably actually more evil than the Dark Lord). Can Dirk and Christopher save Sooz? Does she want to be saved? Would Dirk really sacrifice his friends to become Dark Lord once more? Here’s hoping Thomson’s second Dark Lord title is not the last given the open ending. It is sarcastic British fantasy in the Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams vein; it is a bit long and can tend toward silly, but it will satisfy fans of tongue-in-cheek.

Best read with its companion tome…let’s just say best read; wouldn’t want to anger the Dark Lord. (Humorous fantasy. 10-14)